The mystery of Mika Kleinschmidt’s first husband remains one of the most fascinating parts of the HGTV star’s pre-fame life. Today’s viewers know her as the confident real estate developer and designer on “100 Day Dream Home.” Her life story has many chapters before her current marriage to co-host Brian Kleinschmidt.
Mika was born to a single Air Force mother on March 30, 1982. Her early life helped shape her tough personality. She worked in the fitness industry for over ten years before switching careers. She graduated from the University of South Florida in 2007 with a degree in mass communication and media studies. Today, her net worth stands between $1.5 million and $2 million, but success didn’t come easy.
Brian and Mika’s happy marriage began in 2015, but fans often ask about her earlier life. The most interesting chapter is her first marriage, which brought her daughter Jade into the world on February 11, 2009. Let’s take a closer look at the untold story of this HGTV star’s past and how these experiences shaped her into the successful designer and mother she is today.
Mika Kleinschmidt’s Early Life and Background
Mika Kleinschmidt’s childhood took shape through military discipline and frequent moves, well before she became a TV personality. Her mother’s service in the Air Force as a single parent molded Mika’s work ethic and adaptability. These early years built the resilience that became central to her professional life.
Her upbringing in a military family
Military life gave young Mika countless opportunities to experience different communities at various bases. She learned to stay flexible and build quick connections through this nomadic lifestyle—traits that became vital to her real estate career later. Military household discipline helped shape her systematic approach to challenges and prepared her for future business ventures.
Education and early interests
Mika’s dynamic childhood led her to the University of South Florida, where she discovered her love for communication. She earned her degree in mass communication and media studies in 2007. Her passion for fitness emerged during these years and guided her initial career path.
She showed strong business sense during her university days. Her expertise in communication paired with business intuition became the cornerstone of her success in real estate development and television. Her natural ability to connect with others and think strategically paved the way for her future achievements.
Mika Kleinschmidt nationality and ethnicity
Mika’s American roots trace back to her birth and upbringing in the United States. Her mixed ethnic background adds to her rich cultural heritage and shapes her unique viewpoint in life and business. Her multicultural background helped her connect with people from all walks of life—a crucial skill for her future role as a real estate developer serving diverse clients.
These early life experiences equipped Mika for the challenges and opportunities ahead, including motherhood and her partnership with Brian Kleinschmidt.
The First Marriage: What We Know
Many aspects of Mika Kleinschmidt’s life play out in public view, but details about her first marriage stay private. This chapter of her life remains discreet yet marks a crucial period that ended up leading to motherhood and her current success.
Who was Mika Kleinschmidt’s first husband?
Mika’s first husband’s identity stays hidden from the public. We know that he is Jade’s biological father. Mika chose to keep this relationship private, and both she and Brian Kleinschmidt managed to keep this stance throughout their public careers. In fact, they never spoke publicly about Jade’s biological father.
Timeline of the relationship
Public records don’t clearly document the exact timeline of Mika’s first marriage. Some milestones help us understand this period better. Her daughter Jade was born on February 11, 2009. Brian Kleinschmidt was married to his first wife, Ericka Dunlap, at the time, and they competed on Season 15 of “The Amazing Race”.
Why the marriage ended
Details about why Mika’s first marriage ended stay confidential. Any discussion about their separation would be pure speculation. Some sources say the relationship taught Mika that “relationships require effort and communication” and that “it’s okay to grow apart and move on when necessary”.
How it shaped her early adult life
Motherhood shaped Mika’s early adulthood by a lot. She focused on creating stability for her daughter after becoming a single mother to Jade. Jade was about 18 months old in 2011 when her mom reconnected with Brian. Life as a single parent without doubt added to Mika’s strength and determination.
Her past relationships gave her valuable insight into what she wanted in a partner. Brian’s treatment of her young daughter impressed Mika. He made Jade’s needs a priority, which built the foundation for their blended family that viewers admire on screen today.
Motherhood and Life After Divorce
Mika Kleinschmidt started her most important life role—motherhood—after her first marriage ended. She grew tremendously as she learned to be a single parent while rebuilding her life.
Birth of her daughter Jade
Mika’s daughter Jade came into the world on February 11, 2009. This life-changing moment happened during her previous relationship and set new foundations for her future. Jade is now 16 years old as of 2025, and she grows up watching her mother’s career and life evolve. Motherhood brought Mika both happiness and challenges as she adjusted to her new role.
Raising Jade as a single mom
Mika took on life as an independent single mother after her marriage ended. Jade was about 18 months old when Mika met Brian Kleinschmidt again in 2011. She showed great self-reliance during this time and focused on building a stable life for her young daughter.
“I’m very independent. I wasn’t looking to jump into relationships,” Mika said in an interview about this phase of her life. This independence became her trademark as she balanced motherhood with personal growth. Her strong approach to raising Jade shaped both her daughter’s upbringing and her own growth as a person and professional.
Mika Kleinschmidt parents’ support system
Family support became vital during these early years. “Family is everything,” Mika wrote under a photo of Jade with her grandparents. These words showed how much her parents helped during her transition to single motherhood.
Jade grew up with what Mika called “a big, blended family and a great group of role models”. Her mother, Imogene McNeilly, and father, Thomas McGee, a former military officer, gave vital support. Her sister, Kayla-Anna Candelmo, also added to this family network.
Mika often talked about her mother’s strength and leadership—qualities she showed as a single parent. Their close bond became central to her life. Her mother offered both practical help and emotional guidance as Mika raised Jade alone before Brian became part of their family.
Meeting Brian Kleinschmidt and Building a New Life
A chance digital mistake ended up bringing together one of HGTV’s most beloved power couples. Mika’s life took an unexpected turn after her first marriage ended. This twist would change both her personal and professional path completely.
How Mika and Brian reconnected
Mika accidentally included Brian in a chain email in 2011, ten years after they attended Riverview High School together. His response sparked their connection: “Hey, if this was an accident, that’s okay. But how the heck have you been doing?”. They met at a Buccaneers football game – Brian called it a date, but Mika saw it as catching up with an old classmate. “I didn’t consider it a date because we hadn’t seen each other in 10 years,” Mika explained, “but looking back on it now and with Brian’s intentions, it was definitely a date”.
Brian’s role as a stepfather
Brian formed an instant bond with Mika’s daughter Jade, who was just 18 months old when they met again. “It was almost more love at first sight when I met Jade,” Brian revealed. “I don’t like the word stepdad, so I say ‘bonus dad'”. His natural parenting ability amazed Mika. “It was significant that I find someone that is going to accept not only me but my daughter and put her first, and Brian has done that since day one”.
Blending families and starting over
Their relationship moved fast after their first meeting. “We kind of moved quickly, because once we went on that first date, within a few months it was like, we’re running a business together”. The couple married in 2015. Brian welcomed Jade as his “forever little princess” in their new blended family.
Launching their HGTV experience together
Their different skills created the perfect foundation for their television careers. Brian’s development background paired perfectly with Mika’s real estate expertise. The couple created “100 Day Dream Home,” building custom homes in 100 days or less. They achieved a soaring win in Season 2 of HGTV’s “Rock the Block”. “We’re still kind of pinching ourselves,” Brian admitted about their success.
Conclusion
Mika Kleinschmidt’s life story from military child to HGTV star shows her grit and determination. Her early adult years, including her first marriage and divorce, shaped her into the businesswoman viewers admire today. Her daughter Jade became the most important chapter from her previous relationship and gave Mika a sense of purpose during tough times.
Being a single mother tested Mika’s independence and strength – qualities she developed growing up in a military family. These experiences prepared her to face future challenges in life and work. Her family’s support, especially from her parents and sister, helped her direct this phase while creating a stable life for her daughter.
A chance email brought her back in touch with Brian Kleinschmidt in 2011. Though careful about new relationships, Mika found someone who accepted both her and Jade completely. Brian stepped up as “bonus dad” and deepened their bond. They married in 2015 and built a loving blended family.
The couple turned their personal bond into a successful business partnership. Their combined expertise in real estate and development became the foundation for “100 Day Dream Home.” This led them to HGTV fame and a soaring win on “Rock the Block.”
Mika’s story teaches us how setbacks can open unexpected doors. Her first marriage remains private but marks a crucial chapter that brought her motherhood, self-discovery, and her perfect match. The untold story of this HGTV star proves that life’s detours often lead to beautiful destinations.
